CHA P. VII. Claims of the Emperor upon Holland. Unfortunate fituation of the affairs of the Republic through the violence of parties and internal diffenfion. Con- tinual attempts by the republican faction to abridge the Stadtholder's power, and attacks upon the duke of Brunswick. That prince refigns his great offices, and quits the country. Interference of the King of Pruffia in behalf of the Prince Stadtholder. France obtains an unbounded influence in the affairs of the Republic. Plenipotentiaries fent to Bruffels to accom- modate the differences with the Emperor. Auftrian troops take poffeffion of Old Lillo, and commit other violations of the territorial rights of the Re public. France accepts the office of mediation between Holland and the Emperor. Difpute occafioned by a Flemish boatman on the Schelde. Em- peror's ultimatum prefented at Bruffels. Three new and extraordinary demands added to the former ultimatum. Appearances of an immediate rupture at the commencement of the autumn 1784. Declaration by the Emperor's minifter, that the first shot fired upon the Schelde fhould be confi- dered as a declaration of war. Some account of the nature of the claims, and of the reafons and arguments offered on both fides; with a particular regard to the difpute relative to the Schelde. State of the claim upon Maf- tricht. Imperial veffel fired at and stopped upon the Schelde. Imperial ambaffador recalled from the Hague, and the conferences broken up at Bruffels. Preparations for war on both fides. Exertions of public fpirit by individuals in Holland. States apply to France for a general: Count de Maillebois deputed to that appointment. Endeavours to prevent or divert the ftorm. French monarch expoftulates with the Emperor. Dyke broken by the Dutch near Lillo, and the country laid under water. Inflexibility of the Emperor with respect to the Schelde. Ruffia takes a decided part in favour of the Emperor's claims. Jealousy excited by the confederacy of thefe two great powers. Political caufes which rendered it particularly incumbent on France and Pruffia to protect Holland. Prince Henry of Pruffia's vifit to the court of Versailles. Porte attentive to the state of affairs in Europe, and in readiness to profit of any occafion of advantage which might be offered. Movements and preparations in France. General difpofition of that nation with respect to the war. Difadvantages to which the Emperor would be exposed in the profecution of a war in the Low Countries. Doubtful and critical ftate of public affairs in Europe at the Unexpected fource of jealoufy and difcord opened in Germany. Scheme for for fuch a measure. Empress of Ruffia writes to the Prince of Deux Ponts upon the fubject; who peremptorily refuses a compliance, and acquaints the court of Berlin with the propofal. King of Pruffia remonstrates with the court of Peterburgh on the fubject: Empress's anjwer. Conduct of the courts of Vienna and Munich. States of Bavaria alarmed. Satisfac- tion given by the elector not deemed fufficiently explicit. Great diffatisfac- tion excited in Hungary by the late fchemes of reform. Rebellion of the peajants in the mountainous borders of Transylvania and Walachia. Sa- wage cruelties committed on the nobility. Peasants defeated, reduced, and Horiah, their mock king, publicly executed. Vigilance of the Pruffian monarch, and efficacious measures pursued by him, for preventing any in- novation in the Germanic conftitution and fyftem of policy. Treaty of union and confederation, for maintaining the indivifibility of the empire, and the rights of the Germanic body, in general and particular, figned at Berlin on the 23d of July 1785; the principal parties being the King of Pruffia, the elector of Brunfwick Lunenburgh, and the elector of Saxony. Meajures purfued by the court of Vienna to prevent or to counteract the new league prove ineffective. King of Pruffia's expofition of the causes and motives which led to the new German confederation, generally approved by the neighbouring powers. The appearances of immediate war in Germany feem to be fuperfeded by a more moderate difpofition, and the questions upon the exchange of Bavaria are fuffered to die away without farther expla- nation or difcuffion. The form of war being diverted from the Low Coun- tries, by the great importance of the political queftions which unexpectedly arofe and were agitated in Germany, the republic of Holland thereby gained time to provide the more effectually for the worst that might happen, as well as for endeavouring to ward off the evil entirely by an accommoda- tion. Negociations refumed at Paris, under the auspices of M. de Ver- gennes. Dutch deputies received at Vienna by the emperor. Speech and anfwer. Definitive treaty of peace between the emperor and the republic of Holland concluded under the mediation and guarantee of France. Prin- cipal ftipulations of the treaty. Treaty of alliance and friendship between France and Holland, finally ratified on the 25th of December 1785. Ac- count of the Spanish expedition against Algiers in the year 1784; and the caufes which prevented its infertion in the bufines of that year. [124 CHA P. IX. View of the character of the late parliament. Enormous fupplies voted in its first feffion. Fruitless expenditure of this fubfidy occafions the refolutions which terminated the American war. Evidence of the parliament's independence. Enumeration of important matters in which it was engaged. Refcinds the famous refolution refpecting the Mid- dlefex election. Disappoints many, by not profecuting certain enquiries, &c. During the short space of two years, faw no less than five minifters in fucceffion. Different opinions on its interference in their appointment and removal. Well inclined to fupport the measures of the minifter in power at the time of its election. The campaign of 1781 caufes univerfal alarm, ana accafions the commons to interfere to procure a change of councils. Minifter acquiefces. Delay in appointing a new miniftry occafions a threat of withholding the fupplies. Complexion of the new adminiftration. Honourably fupported. Negociates the peace; which is cenfured in parliament. The celebrated coalition formed. The minifter, in confequence, retires. Power acquired by the house of commons, in confequence of the coalition. Different opinions entertained of that circumftance. The leaders of the coalition fucceed to the miniftry; but are difmiffed, and a fifth miniftry appointed. Addresses for its removal. Advantageous ground, poffeffed by the court, favourable to refift the practice of difmiffing a minifter at the requifition of the commons. King's answer to thofe addreffes, calling for specific charges against the minifters, a measure well calculated to throw difficulties in the way of fuch parliamentary proceedings. Inftances in illuftration thereof. Firmness of the commons. Their diffolution. Advantages poffeffed by the miniftry upon that event. Caufes of the support the miniftry received from the people. More than 160 members loft their feats. Meeting of the news parliament. Former Speaker re-chofen. Subftance of his majesty's fpeech. Addreffes. Mr. Burke's fpeech on the measure of diffolving the late parliament. His propofed remonftrance to the throne. Commutation a&debate thereon. Bills for fettling the Eaft India dividend, for refpite of duties, and for the better government of the affairs of that company; anaLyfts of the latter, and sketch of the debates thereon. The budget-its contents. Bill for the restoration of eftates forfeited in the rebellion of 1745. The Lord Chancellor's argument against it; it however paffes. Conclufion of the feffion. Substance of the king's speech. [142 The fecond feffion of the parliament opened. The king's speech recommends the final adjustment of the commercial intercourfe with Ireland, the further. fuppreffion of Smuggling, the confideration of the reports of the commiffioners of accounts, and the making regulations in different offices. Earl of Surrey's exceptions to the speech. The minifter's answer. "Lord North's animadverfions on the mention which had been made of a parliamentary reform. Mr. Burke objects to the speech, on account of its taking no notice of India affairs, and proposes an amendment in the addrefs. Minifter replies to Lord North-Hiftory of the celebrated Westminster election, which continued for upwards of fix weeks, and was concluded only on the day previous to the return of the writ. High bailiff grants a fcrutiny, which is protefted against by Mr. Fox. Brought before parliament, and often difcuffed. Arguments for and against the fcrutiny. Mr. Fox's animated appeal, farcaftically attacking the minifter. Mr. Pitt's reply, charging Mr. Fox with deteftable conduct in politics. Various queftions and divifions on the fubject. The fcrutiny at last quashed, and lord Hood and Mr. Fox in confequence returned.-Provifions by Mr. Fox's India bill, for adjusting the Nabob of Arcot's debts; alfo by Mr. Pitt's. Court of directors purfue measures, in confequence of directions in the latter, which are fuperfeded by the board of controul. Earl of Carlifle's motion thereon thereon warmly debated, but negatived without a divifion. The femt tranfaction agitated in the house of commons by Mr. Fox, and defended by Mr. Dundas. Mr. Smith, chairman of the company's, fentiments. Sir Thomas Rumbold's. Mr. Burke's full investigation of the fubject. The motion negatived, 164 to 69.—Mr. Pitt's motion to amend the reprefentation in parliament; particulars of his propofal. Not generally approved. Mr. Fox's objections. Arguments for and against the measure. Negatived. -General review of the national finances by the minifter. Objections by the oppofition. Contents of the budget.-Bill for appointing commiffioners to enquire into abufes, and report obfervations for better conducting bufinefs in the public offices, brought in by the minifter. Objections thereto. Arguments in its favour. Paffes in the commons by a large majority. In the lords receives very material amendments. Mention of the steps taken to fettle the commercial intercourfe with Ireland. Clofe of the feffion. [170 Extract of a difpatch from Major General Stuart, commander in chief of bis Majefty's and the East India company's forces on the coast of Coromandel, dated June 27, 1783, received January 9, 1784 Letter to the felect committee at Madras, containing the particulars of the repulfe of the French, on 25th June, 1783 Extract of a letter from Vice Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, commander in chief of his Majefty's fhips and veffels in the East Indies, dated July 25, 1783, received January 12, 1784 [255 (258 (259 Account [265 Account of the proceedings of the members of the house of commons, who met at the St. Alban's tavern, from time to time, for the purpose of promoting an union of parties, in January and February 1784 Remarkable addrefes from particular perfons to their respective electors, on declaring themjelves candidates at the late general election Addreffes of the Right Hon. C. J. Fox, to the electors of Westminster [272 [272 [273 of the Right Hon. W. Windham, to the city of Norwich [274 loft bis election - of T. W. Coke, Efq; to the county of Norfolk - [275 [276 1277 [279 [279 Copy of the return made by the high bailiff of Westminster to the sheriff of Middlefex, and by the sheriff to the clerk of the crown Protefts against granting a fcrutiny, delivered to the high bailiff at St. Anne's veftry-room, June 11, 1784 Proceedings at the trial of the Rev. W. D. Shipley, dean of St. Afaph, for a libel, at the affixes at Shrewsbury, before the Hon. Mr. Juftice Buller, August 6, 1784 [280 Letters between the Right Hon. W. Pitt and Lord George Gordon [288 Sentence of the court martial appointed to try Col. Debbieg, for writing difrefpectful letters to the Duke of Richmond The judgment passed on Christopher Atkinson, Efq; in the court of King's Bench [291 A general lift of the difeafes and cafualties, chriftenings and burials, for the year 1784 An account of the quantities of all corn and grain exported from and imported into England and Scotland, for one year, ended 5th January, His Majefty's fpeech on opening the feffions, November 11, 1783 [305 The humble addrefs of the lords fpiritual and temporal to the King; with his Majefty's anfwer of the houfe of commons; Address of the house of lords to his Majefty; of commons to the King, [306 with his Majefty's answer [307 with his Majesty's anfver [309 20th February 1784; with his [310 Majefty's answer Second addrefs of the house of commons to the King, March 4th, 1784; with his Majesty's anfwer Refolutions voted by the boufe of commons, to be laid before his Majefty [319 [312 |